5 Simple Tips to Make School Mornings Run Smoothly

I am not a morning person. I think I've mentioned that here before. I can easily sleep until noon if my house is empty and the phone stays quiet. Before Maverick started kindergarten, my boys were 9:00 to 9:00 sleepers. Sometimes they slept as late as 10:00. But now, we are up and at 'em at 7:00. You wouldn't think that two hours is that big of a deal, but to this preggo it feels like eternity.

Anyhoo....I need all the help I can get to get Maverick out the door on time with minimal nagging and no rushing. So, I've found five ways to make things run as smooth as possible. Most of these are very simplistic and nothing new or revolutionary, it's just what has helped my family.

1. Set your coffee pot the night before.

I need at least one cup of coffee to start my day, no matter what. And isn't the only bad part of coffee trying to make it when you haven't had any? Save yourself the trouble and use that handy dandy little program button on your coffeemaker. And if you have a Keurig, I'm jealous.

2. Keep a consistent bedtime. If not for everyone, at least for the kids.

I'm naturally a night owl. I like crafting and watching sitcoms well past midnight. But my boys are in bed and asleep between 8:30 and 9:00 (almost) every night. I will be a nightmare to deal with if you mess with my kids' bedtime. Maverick is not a happy riser, so I can definitely tell when his bedtime has been screwed with. Getting him to bed at a consistent, early time makes for much less of a struggle in the morning.

3. Really, REALLY, try not to nag or yell in the morning.

                                                                      Source: Uploaded by user via Aunna on Pinterest

This is a hard one for me. I'm a yeller. I'm not proud, but the first step to overcoming a problem is to admit you have one, right? I hate yelling and nagging at Maverick before he goes to school. I want him to start the day in the most positive manner as possible. So even when I'm about to flip my lid, I make a conscious decision to change my tone. Whispering is scarier anyway.

4. Have breakfast, lunch, and clothes picked out the night before.

Every night as part of our bedtime routine Maverick chooses his breakfast, his lunch, and his clothes. I made lists of all the quick and easy breakfast options and also the lunch options if he wants me to pack his lunch instead of eating at school. His clothes (down to his shoes) get laid out as well. That way, I don't have to think very much in the morning.

5. Have (and stick to) a routine.

This is by far the most important one to me. I made up a little laminated sheet of things Maverick must do in the morning and he has taken to it like a duck to water. It was super easy to create and it's taped at Maverick's eye level to our fridge. He knows what has to be done and by what time and I don't have to say a word. He also knows that if he gets everything done quickly, then he will have time to kill and can watch a little TV before the bus comes. I really believe this is the key to the no nagging. Kids will live up to your expectations and probably exceed them if you give them a chance.
I was going to upload a printable of our routine, but for some reason Scribd is being contrary. So here's a pin instead.

                                                                  Source: icanteachmychild.com via Aunna on Pinterest

This pin is from icanteachmychild.com and is more elaborate than ours but serves as an inspiration. Since Maverick is not reading completely yet, ours is just pictures and is only things that he has to get done before the bus arrives. For example, he's expected to make his bed, get dressed, eat breakfast, put his dishes in the dishwasher, brush his teeth, and get his backpack ready. All of these things he does independently.

I'm not gonna lie and say our mornings are always smooth. This morning I've already had to practically drag Maverick out of bed. But it does help most mornings. And like I said, I need all the help I can get.

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